Brake Failure?

For a few weeks I've noticed the car pulling slightly to the right under braking (I actually made another thread about it and hadn't gotten as far as taking the brake apart yet).

Today I had what seemed like a complete failure of the left front brake. I was driving along when I smelled something like a burning clutch or burning brakes. Then a puff of smoke came from the left front wheel well, the brake pedal went soft, and the car started pulling hard to the right under braking. After that there was no more smoke or smell. At no point did I see any fluids leaking from the car.

Based on the fact that the smoke and smell stopped, I'm guessing some component just gave way completely.

Any guesses?

 

Smell maybe from a partially seized brake? Then overheated causing boil off of brake fluid and seal destruction?
Purely a guess as requested.

 

Hmm... Most likely cause is your LEFT brake has some corrosion in the line and or leak. I had the same thing and the caliper needed to be re built. the pistons were shot ... you are basically just using the right brake to slow down and it can lock up easy as the weight shifts to the front.

the smoke could either be the pads locked up - you woudl notice it on further driving or a burst piston and fluid leak - burn ... I would not do any driving till it is completly repaired. Corrosion or dirt in the fluid can cause the calipers to fail over time.... been there done that.

 

Yes I meant the left front - I edited the post to fix that.

Hmm - sounds like maybe something that I should have a pro fix. The car is headed to the body shop for an unrelated thing tomorrow, so I will just have to warn them to drive as little as possible and deal with the brakes later.

 

Could be a bad wheel bearing.

I had that happen to me once. Bearing burned up, boiled the brake fluid. Easy to test. Jack car, grab top and bottom of tire with both hands and wiggle. If the wheel wiggles, the bearing is suspect.

 

Interesting - I'll give that a shot.